Mar 19, 2013 | KLarochelle | 921 views
Bantam Wolverines off to the Finals!
With the spirit and tenacity that has been a trademark of this team all season long when it counted, the Wolverines Bantam LL team pulled off a stunning victory tonight in the first "A" division semi final's vs the undefeated powerhouse Waterloo Ravens #1 team...
The Wolverines were charged up at the start of the game, thanks to the Waterloo Ravens coaching staff!
In their three previous games vs Waterloo, all were decided by less than one goal. We felt the sting of losing to the Ravens at the Christmas tournament in overtime of the Championship game, and again in two close hard fought games at the end of the season. But tonight would be our chance to seize the opportunity and by working hard as a team and backstopped by the stellar effort of our goalie tandem of Abbey Luckhardt and Jillian Chesney, the team did what no other team had done in the league all season long, they handed the Ravens their first loss when it really counted!
The team outplayed and out-chanced the Ravens in the first period, but would finally get on the board first thanks to a short handed effort by team Captain Jess Leiskau who seized the opportunity of the Ravens defence pinching, to take a solo effort to the net and wrist one over the glove side of the Waterloo net-minder. Mid way through the second, Waterloo would get on the board. A wrist shot from the point made it's way through traffic and though the Wilmot goalie got a piece of it with her glove before it found it's mark in the net.
The third period started with the teams tied at one. A goalie change for the Wolverines gave Jillian the opportunity to shine. She was called upon to make several key saves in the the third, including a stellar ten bell with no rebound opportunity with two Ravens in the crease alone. The Wolverines rallied on the play of their goaltender to hold off the hard charging Ravens but at the end of the game it would take a shoot out to determine the victor.
Sudden death, one on one shootout began with Jess vs the Ravens scoring leader (#5) facing off head to head, but both would be turned away by the goalies who decided they would rule this shoot out. Up second was Alternate Captain Cass VanKalsbeek who though she had the goalie beaten on a nice blocker side shot, only to find the right post and out. Shooter number three found Alternate Captain Katie Kneisel try the glove side deek, only to be denied by the Ravens netminder. On the other end Wolverines goalie Jillian Chesney stood her ground, patiently waiting for the Ravens shooters to make their first move before shutting all four of them down. It would take the fourth round of shooters to find victory in this game. Third Alternate Captain Kira Larochelle stepped up and followed Katie Kneisel`s path to the net also choosing the right side for her mark, and as a left hand shot brought the puck from her forehand to her backhand laying down a wicked deek to the goalies right side that found twine.
The Wolverines spilt out onto the ice in disbelief that they were able to pull out the upset against the heavily favoured Ravens. The Ravens coach could be seen throwing his clipboard clear across his bench in disgust that his team had lost for the first time, when it counted most.
The Wolverines now prepare to face the winner of the second semi final in the A Division Championship game this Sunday at 1:15 pm at the Kitchener Sportsworld Ice Park, where once again they will put their season on the line and play with all the heart and tenacity of a Championship team.